Exercise device for under a desk

ABSTRACT

A hand and foot lever-arm rowing type exercise device is mounted in the leg space under a desk or cubicle work surface. A resistance device such as a spring, rubberized cord, air cylinder, attaches between the pivotally attached adjustable lever arms and the desk. Hand grips twist and have tension arms for gripping exercises as well as moving the lever arm for full arm exercises. Foot straps on a foot board and bicycle pedals enable leg exercises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to office exercise devices thatcan be used by a user while seated at a desk, and in particular, to ahand and foot lever-arm rowing type exercise device that is mounted inthe foot space under a desk.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many people appreciate the need to exercise regularly. Unfortunately,busy business schedules often make it difficult to incorporate a regularexercise schedule into a working week. An exercise device that can beused while a person is working would provide the benefit of exercisethat can be achieved during working hours.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,211, issued Sep. 15, 1998 to Berryhill, shows anexercise device that is particularly adapted for use by individualswhile seated in a stationary chair. The inventive exercise deviceemploys a folding frame, which has attached bicycle type pedals, a legpress bar, and resistance pulls. The bicycle type pedals are attached toone side of the folding frame, the leg press bar hangs from a horizontalbar on the opposite side of the folding frame, and the resistance pullsare also attached to the other side of the folding frame, opposite thebicycle type pedals. By positioning the front of the exercise device infront of an individual seated in a chair, pedaling exercises can beaccomplished. By positioning the rear of the exercise device in front ofa seated individual.

U.S. Patent Application #20020137606, published Sep. 26, 2002 by Willis,puts forth a portable leg or arm powered exercise device for a personthat may include a seating pad permanently or detachably affixed to asupport base upon which one or more resistance members are mounted forengagement by one or both feet or hands of the user. Preferably theresistance members include coil springs to provide the resistance andspring control guides to prevent overly sharp angular bending of thecoil springs. The exercise device can be used while seated with thedevice placed under a desk or table having limited vertical dimensions.

U.S. Patent Application #20020142898, published Oct. 3, 2002 by Willis,concerns an office chair and office desk independently incorporatingcertain activity features. The chair and desk arrangements allow theuser to perform beneficial exercise without leaving the chair or desk byutilizing movable exercise arms attached to adjustable variableresistance bearing assemblies attached to the chair seat or the desk toprovide a full range of omni-directional exercises.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,212, issued Sep. 15, 1998 to Nelson, concerns a legexerciser that includes a leg exercise device sized to fit beneath thedesk of a user, and an anchoring device attached to the exercise device.The anchoring device is adapted to be affixed to the user's chair. Thisallows the user to sit at his or her desk in the chair and actuate theleg exerciser while doing so.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,212, issued Jul. 17, 2001 to Vallone, provides anadjustable resistance rehabilitation exercise device for use byindividuals without supervision to follow prescribed or desirediterative cycles of therapeutic exercise regimens. The adjustableresistance rehabilitation exercise device preferably includes a pilotpulley assembly and a adjustable resistance control spooler assembly,mounted and secured to individual ‘O’ clamp and/or channeled ‘U’ clampassemblies, interconnected by a flexible cord, with bayonet clipssecured at both ends of the cord, and supplemented with hand grips,precision straight scale, multi-purpose harness assembly and anchoringdevice. The ‘O’ clamp and channeled ‘U’ clamp screw assemblies may bedisassembled and employed in either of two ‘O’ clamp screw holes andalso are interchangeable between the ‘O’ and Channeled ‘U’ clamps. Thepilot pulley assembly is configured with a single grooved roller andperforms the primary function of establishing and maintaining atangential path for the flexible cord travel from the adjustableresistance control spooler assembly to the pilot pulley roller tominimize friction and resultant added exercise forces. The adjustableresistance rehabilitation exercise device accessories include handgrip(s) and a precision, spring style, straight scale for calibratingand verifying prescribed and preset exercise forces for individualtherapeutic regimens. The channeled ‘U’ clamp is more ideally suited forattachment to flat board surfaces such as found in physical therapyplinths, tables, desks and exercise/work bench configurations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,149, issued Nov. 13, 1984 to Weldon, discloses anarm exercise device that has an exercising arm adjustable to differentlengths to accommodate forearms of different lengths and attached to abearing-supported lateral rod which has an upright portion at the otherend. Springs or other tension devices are attached at one end to thelateral rod and, at the other end, to a tension bar that is adjustablewith respect to the base. In one variation, the tension arm can bere-positioned 180 degrees from its initial position, thereby permittinguse of the device for exercising right or left arms. In a furtherrefinement, safety stops are provided which limit the movement of theexercising arm, thereby preventing it from passing the upright position.The base of the exercise machine is held in place on a table or desk bytable clamp braces.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,303, issued Nov. 3, 1992 to Smith, indicates acompact and easily adjusted exercising device useful for exercising theupper arms, shoulders, calves or the like. The device has a base thatmay be supported on a desk, table or floor. A pair of uprights supportan upper bar over which one or more rubber bands are placed. This bar isremovable when it is desired to change the rubber bands. A hollow lowerbar is held between the uprights and the one or more rubber bands passover this bar. A handle-supporting bar is then slid through verticalslots in the uprights and through the center of the lower supportingbar. This provides a light, easily adjusted exercising device that canbe easily used by the busy executive or even by bedridden persons.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,633, issued Sep. 3, 1991 to Rice, provides chairthat functions well as an ordinary office chair and which can be used toperform exercises. The chair includes all the attributes of acomfortable office chair, including a padded seat with a seat bottom andseat back, and a pedestal with casters that rollably support the seat ona chair pad lying behind an office desk. The seat back has an upper partwith extendable handles that can be grasped to raise and lower it whilea mechanism resists vertical movement to provide exercise. The seat hasarmrests that each have a moveable portion with extendable handles and aresistance mechanism to provide exercise in raising and lowering thearmrests. The chair also has an extendable mechanism mounted under theseat bottom and having a pair of foot handles that allow the seatedperson to move the handles forward and back for further exercise. Allexercise mechanisms of the chair can be deployed, used, and stowed whilethe person remains seated, so the person is encouraged to conductexercises during brief appropriate periods such as when the person istalking on a speakerphone.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,649, issued Jun. 12, 1973 to Miller, discloses anexercising arrangement that includes a chair with a space beneath theseat portion. The exercise devices are mounted on a platform beneath theseat and concealed by front and side panels. A track comprises the mountfor the platform, permitting it to be extended in front of the seatportion where the exercise apparatus is accessible for manipulation by aperson sitting in the chair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,575, issued Nov. 10,1998 to Holslag, illustrates a portable exercise apparatus that includesa support frame, which has a base mountable under a chair to hold thebase in a stationary position with a user seated on the chair and anupright standard mounted upon the base. The apparatus also comprises ashaft mounted to an upper end of the upright standard and that hasopposite ends extending from opposite sides thereof. The apparatusfurther comprises a pair of arms disposed on opposite sides of theupright standard with each arm at one end mounted to one end of theshaft for rotatably mounting the arm to the upright standard. Theapparatus includes a pair of pedals each mounted to the other end ofeach of the arms for engagement by a user to create the force necessaryto rotate the arms relative to the upright standard. The apparatus alsoincludes a resistance generating and adjusting mechanism disposed on theends of the shaft at the opposite sides of the upright standard andengaged with the one ends of the arms and being operable to generate andselectively adjust a level of resistance to rotation of the pair of armsrelative to the upright standard in response to rotation of the arms.The resistance generating and adjusting mechanism includes at least oneconical-shaped spring washer received over one of the shaft ends andbeing respectively compressible and expandable for correspondinglyincreasing and decreasing the level of resistance to rotation of thearms by the user. The support frame is attachable to a desk chair or thelike.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,392, issued May 24, 1994 to Hawkins, illustrates apedal exerciser for performing stepper exercises. The device includes apair of pedal cranks, each crank driving one of a pair of crankshaftsthat are coupled together by bevel gears such that, when one pedal isforced to rotate downward, the other pedal rises thereby providingreciprocating stair climbing motion. Adjustable resistance to steppingis provided by a resistance pad against either the idler bevel gear orone or both crankshafts. The compact construction is amenable topositioning the exerciser under a desk or table for a seated user. Adetachable frame with handles may be attached for an erect user.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,751,033, issued Aug. 7, 1973 to Rosenthal, indicates acombination of a chair and an advanceable and retractable pedalingdevice. The pedaling device is pivotally secured to the bottom of achair by a telescoping member. The telescoping member with the pedalingdevice may be adjusted to a desired angle for comfortable pedaling. Thelength of the telescoping member may be adjusted to suit the length ofthe user's legs. An adjustable counter-force device is provided to varythe force desired applied by the user. The device may be locked in placeout of the way, under the chair.

While there have been a number of portable exercise devices and exercisedevices attachable to furniture, none provide a lever-arm rowing typeexerciser attached under a desk. The present invention addresses theinadequacies of the prior art by providing a simplified exercise devicefor use while seated in a chair. The exercise device of the presentinvention is small, lightweight and easily secured to any desk orcubicle. In addition, due to its relatively small size and lightweightthe exercise device of present invention is easily stored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified lever-armrowing type exercise device that is easily mounted under a desk for usewhile seated in a chair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lever-arm rowingtype exercise device that is small, lightweight and easily secured toany desk in the foot space.

One more object of the present invention is to provide an exercisedevice for use with a desk or cubicle that is easily stored when not inuse by holding the lever arms flat against the upper portion of the legspace with friction clamps.

A succeeding object of the present invention is to provide a hand gripthat has a turning means for wrist twisting exercises and a squeezehandle for performing hand gripping exercises.

Once again another object of the present invention is to provide a footattaching portion for moving the second lever arm for leg exercises,which further comprises a pair of foot pedals for bicycling exercises.

In brief, a lever-arm rowing type exercise device that is mountable in aleg space under a desk, which comprises pivotally attached lever armsfor exercising both arms and legs. The lever arms are removablymountable to the desk surface by suction cups or other attachment meansthat have pivot rods for pivotally mounting the lever arms thereon. Thelever arms are telescopically adjustable in length and have a spring ortensioned rubberized cords or an air cylinder or other pneumatic systemconnected between the lever arm and the desk, which provide resistancewhile exercising. When not in use the lever arms are easily stored andheld flat against the desk by friction clamps.

The first set of lever arms, which are to be used for arm and upper bodyworkout, include a hand grip that enables movement of the lever arm by auser. The hand grip also has a means for turning, as indicated by thearched two-headed arrow, relative to the lever arm for wrist twistingexercises. The hand grip further comprises a squeeze handle that ispivotally mounted to the hand grip with a tension means, such as aspring hinge, therebetween for performing hand gripping exercises.

The second lever arm, which is used for leg and lower body workout,includes a foot attaching portion with foot receiving loops forreceiving at least one foot of a user for the purpose of moving thesecond lever arm for leg exercises. The foot attaching portion furthercomprises a pair of foot pedals, which are attached to the side of thefoot attaching portion by a rotatable means having a tension means, suchas a torsion knob, for alternately exercising the legs of the user in abicycle pedaling motion.

An advantage of the present invention is that it may be used whileseated at a desk.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a varietyof exercises for both arms and legs.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it may be heldin place, out of the way when not in use.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it is easily securedto any desk.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is small andlightweight.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides away to fit exercise into a busy schedule or a sedentary lifestyle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way ofillustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the hand and foot lever-arm rowingtype exercise device of the present invention mounted in the leg spaceunder a desk;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational partial broken view showing a seatedexerciser using the device of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a lever-arm rowing type exercise device 20 that ismountable in a leg space 41 under a desk 40, which comprises preferablytwo adjustable lever arms 21A, attached to a desk surface 42 within theleg space 41 of the desk 40 by a pivotable means, such as a pivot rodhinge 23, at the first end of each of the lever arms 21A with one leverarm 21A on each side.

The device 20 also comprises a tension means, such as a spring means 22or rubberized cord or an air pressure means 22A, such as an air cylinderor other pneumatic device, which is attached between the lever arm 21Aand the desk surface 42 to create a resistance to moving the lever arm21A for the purpose of exercising by moving the lever arm 21A.

The device 20 further comprises a hand grip 18 that is attached to thesecond end of the lever arm 21A. The hand grip 18 enables movement ofthe lever arm 21A by a user. The hand grip 18 has a means for turning,as indicated by the arched two-headed arrow shown in FIG. 1, relative tothe lever arm 21A for wrist twisting exercises. The hand grip 18 alsocomprises a squeeze handle 19, which is pivotally mounted to the handgrip 18 with a tension means, such as a spring hinge 15, therebetweenfor performing hand gripping exercises, as shown in FIG. 2.

The device 20 also comprises a second lever arm 21F, preferably anadjustable single arm 21F centrally attached to the desk surface 42within the foot space 41 of the desk 40 by a pivotable means 23 at thefirst end of the second lever arm 21F. A tension means that comprises aspring means 22 or rubberized cord or an air pressure means 22A, such asan air cylinder or other pneumatic means is attached between the secondlever arm 21F and the desk surface 42 to create a resistance to movingthe second lever arm 21F for the purpose of exercising by moving thesecond lever arm 21F. A foot attaching portion 27, which comprises aflat surface 27 mounted on the second lever arm 21F, attached to thesecond end of the second lever arm 21F by a hinged bracket 16. The footattaching portion 27 receives the feet of a user for the purpose ofmoving the second lever arm 21F for leg exercises, as shown in FIG. 2.The foot attaching portion 27, which receives feet of the user has apair of foot receiving loops 26 attached to the flat surface 27. Thefoot attaching portion 27 further comprises a pair of foot pedals 28that attach to the side of the foot attaching portion 27 by a rotatablemeans that has a tension means, such as a torsion knob 29, forexercising the legs of the user in a bicycle pedaling movement.

The lever arms 21A and 21F are adjustable in length by a telescopingmeans and are connected together at the attachment means 23 and 24 bytwo telescoping adjustable rods 17. The lever arms 21A and 21F areremovably mountable to the desk surface 42 by suction cups 24 or othermounting means that have a pivot rod connecting means 23 for pivotallymounting the lever arms 21A and 21F thereon, as shown in FIG. 1.

In practice, the lever-arm rowing type exercise device 20 would bemounted to the upper surface 42 of a leg space 41 under a desk 40 byadhering the suction cups 24 for the lever arms 21A and 21F and thetension means 22 or 22A to the desk surface 42. Prior to use the userwould need to adjust the telescoping portions of the lever arms 21A and21F to the desired length.

To exercise the wrists the user would twist the hand grip 18, asindicated by the arched two-headed arrow, as shown in FIG. 1, relativeto the lever arm 21A.

To perform hand gripping exercises, the user would alternately grip andrelease the squeeze handle 19, which is pivotally mounted to the handgrip 18 with a tension means, such as a spring hinge 15 therebetween, asshown in FIG. 2.

To perform arm exercises the user would grasp the hand grips 18 and pushor pull the lever arm 21A against the resistant force of the spring 22or rubberized cord or the air pressure means 22A, such as an aircylinder or other pneumatic means, thereby strengthening the arms, asshown in FIG. 2.

To perform leg exercises the user would insert their feet into the footreceiving loops 26 attached to the flat surface 27 and push or pull thesecond lever arm 21F against the resistant force of the tension means 22or 22A, thereby strengthening the legs, as shown in FIG. 2. The usercould also exercise their legs by placing their feet on the pedals 28,which are attached to the sides of the flat surface 27, and moving thepedals 28 in a bicycling motion.

When not in use the lever arms 21A and 21F may be easily stored with thelever arms 21A and 21F held flat against the desk surface 42 by frictionclamps 25.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by wayof illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

1. A lever-arm rowing type exercise device mountable in a leg spaceunder a desk or cubicle work surface, the device comprising: at leastone lever arm attachable to a desk surface within a foot space of a deskby a pivotable means at a first end of the at least one lever arm; atension means attachable between the at least one lever arm and the desksurface to create a resistance to moving the at least one lever arm forthe purpose of exercising by moving the at least one lever arm; a handgrip attached to the at least one lever arm at a second end of the leverarm, the hand grip enabling movement of the at least one lever arm by auser, the hand grip further comprising a means for turning relative tothe at least one lever arm for wrist twisting exercise and a squeezehandle pivotally mounted to the hand grip with a tension meanstherebetween for performing hand gripping exercises.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising at least one second lever arm attachable tothe desk surface within the foot space of the desk by a pivotable meansat a first end of the at least one second lever arm; a tension meansattachable between the at least one second lever arm and the desksurface to create a resistance to moving the at least one second leverarm for the purpose of exercising by moving the at least one secondlever arm; a foot attaching portion attached to the at least one secondlever arm at a second end of the at least one second lever arm, the footattaching portion capable of receiving at least one foot of a user forthe purpose of moving the at least one second lever arm for legexercises.
 3. The exercise device of claim 2 wherein the at least onelever arm and at least one second lever arm are removably mountable tothe desk surface by a suction cup means having a pivot rod connectingmeans for pivotally mounting the lever arms thereon.
 4. The exercisedevice of claim 2 wherein the foot attaching portion comprises a flatsurface mounted on the at least one second lever arm, the foot attachingportion capable of receiving at least one foot of the user and at leastone foot receiving loop attached to the flat surface.
 5. The exercisedevice of claim 4 wherein the foot attaching portion further comprises apair of foot pedals attachable to the foot attaching portion by arotatable means having a tension means for exercising the legs of theuser in a bicycle pedaling movement.
 6. The exercise device of claim 2wherein the tension means between the desk surface and the at least onelever arm and between the desk surface and the at least one second leverarm comprises a spring means.
 7. The exercise device of claim 2 whereinthe tension means between the desk surface and the at least one leverarm and between the desk surface and the at least one second lever armcomprises a rubberized cord means.
 8. The exercise device of claim 2wherein the tension means between the desk surface and the at least onelever arm and between the desk surface and the at least one second leverarm comprises an air pressure means.
 9. The exercise device of claim 8wherein the tension means between the desk surface and the at least onelever arm and between the desk surface and the at least one second leverarm comprises an air cylinder.
 10. The exercise device of claim 2wherein the lever arms are adjustable in length by a telescoping means.11. The exercise device of claim 2 wherein the at least one lever armand the at least one second lever arm are connected together at theattaching means by an adjustable length telescoping rod.